Bergkamp warns Arsenal over Cole exit

Dennis Bergkamp has warned that Arsenal risk losing "something special" if Ashley Cole leaves for Chelsea. The 37-year-old Dutchman will retire after his testimonial match against Ajax at the new Emirates Stadium tomorrow, following 11 seasons at Arsenal. However, he feels Cole is more a part of the fabric of the club.

Bergkamp's words are unlikely to convince Cole that his future does not lie at Stamford Bridge but the Dutchman says losing the only Arsenal first-team player who is a product of the club's academy will hurt. "I am a strong believer in players who come through the youth ranks, like I did at Ajax," he said.

"I believe that it gives a team and a club something special. It is special for the fans but the player is one of them. Apart from that, of course, he [Cole] is a fantastic player and he showed again in the World Cup how good he is. After a season of injuries he's there. That sums up the English mentality for me."

Bergkamp believes Arsenal have a strong chance of honours in the coming season. "If we have a strong and solid team with a good defence, which is probably an area we have had to work on in the last couple of seasons, there are always players in this team who can score goals and win games for you," he said. "I think the Champions League run [to the final] gave us a lot of confidence last year. I think it showed that we took that into the league at some stages and picked up points. In my opinion it is a matter of a good pre-season, getting a good start and then just keeping it going.

"Last year gave a lot of teams some confidence. It might sound silly but Chelsea dropped points every now and again and lost games, which was a surprise. That does give confidence to other teams."

Middlesbrough are in talks with the 25-year-old Argentinian full-back Julio Arca, who was withdrawn from the Sunderland squad for last night's trip to Rotherham. Boro's Frenchman Franck Queudrue has been linked with Fulham and, though the club's new manager, Gareth Southgate, does not want to lose him, Arca would be a perfect replacement.

The incoming Sunderland chairman Niall Quinn has held talks with Arca, who has a year remaining on his contract. The Spanish side Espanyol have been tracking him but their valuation of around £550,000 is way below that of Sunderland.

Southgate is looking to strengthen his squad after a move for Chelsea's defender Robert Huth collapsed. Sunderland have been hamstrung by events off the pitch, with Quinn's takeover bid ongoing and a new manager still to be appointed.

Quinn intends to leave decisions on the squad to his manager but, with no one in the post, he is sanctioning new deals himself. Kenny Cunningham signed a one-year deal yesterday and the 20-year-old midfielder Grant Leadbitter signed for two years. The goalkeeper Kelvin Davis could move to Southampton after also being withdrawn from the squad for last night's game.

The Manchester City manager Stuart Pearce yesterday confirmed the signing of the former Italy striker Bernardo Corradi and announced that Richard Dunne would replace Sylvain Distin as the club's captain. Corradi, who scored 10 goals for Parma last season, has signed a three-year contract. Pearce has promoted the 26-year-old Dunne as a reward for his form over the last two seasons.

"It's not a snub to Sylvain in any way," Pearce said. "I just feel that Richard has got a maturity now and there's a feeling in my bones that giving him this extra responsibility will take him on to another level."

Plymouth Argyle have signed the striker Barry Hayles, who played under the Home Park club's new manager Ian Holloway at Bristol Rovers, from Millwall for £100,000. The 34-year-old said: "It's a pleasure to work with him. He's an honest gentleman. Ollie is great at showing you the bigger picture and my mind was made up as soon as I spoke to him."